Asmussen's Top 50: No. 43 Arizona State

Veteran college football writer Bob Asmussen counts down his top 50 teams for the 2014 season.

Bob Asmussen counts down his top 50 college football teams this upcoming season.

No. 43: Arizona State

Coach: Todd Graham

2013 record: 10-4

Projected 2014 record: 8-4

Circle the date: Sept. 25 vs. UCLA

Why No. 43: Nothing like a Pac-12 South title to fire up the masses. Never mind that the team got drilled by Stanford in the championship game. Or that it lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. The offense should be humming with Taylor Kelly in charge. The defense is a huge question mark. Nine starters are gone from the unit, so look for heavy reliance on junior college transfers, including former Illini defensive lineman Darrius Caldwell. The Pac-12 schedule maker was kind, keeping Oregon off the schedule. Notre Dame is the only nonconference challenge.